Arts students can select science subjects, FG says in new senior secondary curriculum

The Federal Ministry of Education has issued fresh guidelines to address widespread confusion among students, parents, and school administrators over subject choices under the revised Senior Secondary School Curriculum.

In a statement released on Saturday, the ministry said the clarification became necessary following numerous calls, letters, and public debates triggered by misinterpretations circulating across social and traditional media.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, dismissed claims that students were restricted from choosing certain subjects, stressing that no approved subject has been excluded or limited under the new curriculum framework.

According to him, all subjects remain fully accessible to students, as long as their choices are made under proper guidance from school authorities, parents, or certified counsellors. He noted that the curriculum was intentionally designed to be flexible and student-centred.

Dr. Alausa added that science students are free to pick subjects traditionally placed under the arts or social sciences, just as arts and social science students may also enroll for science-related subjects, provided they receive the necessary guidance.

The minister also clarified concerns surrounding the subject formerly known as Information and Communication Technology (ICT), explaining that it had been renamed Digital Technology. He emphasised that the change was purely in name and that the content of the curriculum remained unchanged.

“Students who previously offered Information and Communication Technology are fully eligible to register for Digital Technology during examinations,” he said.

On trade subjects, Alausa said six had been approved under the curriculum. Students may register for any of them if their schools offer the subject and they have been adequately taught. However, he added that no student is compelled to register for a trade subject as a third option if they were not previously exposed to it.